Happens every year. Local gets on the water to see if he could win if he was fishing and posts on Facebook.

Sounds to me that he fished it on day 1.

Osborne is still in the Top 10, a little over 5 pounds back from the leader

My take on this is that a lot not all but a large per cent of tournament fishermen today think if I have on a jersey and have my boat wrapped I am entitled to that spot. I am an old and I fished my first Permian Bass Club tourney in 1969. I can honestly say those things didn't happen back then. For one we were all fishing out of [censored] boats with hardly any electronics. People will say they are fishing for more money but a $1000 back then was big money. Now if I am just out fishing I would move but with the rules like they are today I wouldn't say a word about where to throw or what I was fishing because you might get someone disqualified. Anybody can be a prick but its not a quality I strive to have.

a) People do a lot of things in practice you/I wouldn't do--doesn't make them a prick. Point is--you and I don't know his reasons, whether it's one you favor or not.

b) That's the take home point, isn't it? If we can recognize there are two sides, then there's probably not a villain to blame.

Maybe he is hungry . As we know it’s a free country.

[quote=camo-jorts]There’s two sides to the story then the truth. As someone who fishes several days a week on one body of water, there are locals that have a strong dislike for tournament fisherman. For some reason ole timers and wrapped boat do
Maybe the guy fishing the tournament should’ve moved to his next spot like most people do.
Seriously how many times have you got on lake early run to the spot and it’s occupied?
Unless it’s a big spot I just go elsewhere happens all the time. . Grow up quit whining about it good grief.
J D

I've never fished a public lake, tournament or not, where I feel like I had right of way and unfettered access to "my" spots. Every time I fish, part of it is "competing" for spots with the locals or other tournament competitors, being disappointed when the first 3 spots I pull up to, somebody has beat me to them, and now I have to adapt and change my game plan. Dodging jets skis and wake boats. Being yelled at for fishing too close to a homeowner's dock. All of that is the reality of the sport of fishing...

Why does the fishing community feel like the rules and game ought to be changed and smoothed out for the "pros?" It's the only sport I'm aware of where the majority, fan and "pro," tend to believe the "pros" should be able to compete in a less pressurized environment that the average person. It really doesn't make sense, and I'm sure some of you will want to tar and feather me for pointing that out.

This!

He asked for the center of the net, he was refused, he fished the perimeter. This is a fishing tournament after all... and part of fishing is being able to play nice with others.

I first want to say anyone that is into fishing has heard of FLW, BASS, and MLF! Secondly, I would never fish a lake that has a major event going as I never want to have something like this happening just imagine what this guys friends are saying...

First, I fish a lot of tournaments but don’t have a wrapped boat or a jersey. Am I doing it wrong?

Second, when I saw the Osborne situation it reminded me about FLW at Champlain this year. One pro claimed the locals blocked him from his fish, the locals claimed the pro had a guy holding his spot for him early that morning. I do wonder if and how often it happens at that level, having someone hold your spot for you. I doubt it happens often if at all.

Third, if I were the local guy on Hamilton I would yield to the pros, but I would definitely respect anyone’s right to keep on doing their thing. Part of fishing.

They can have any of my spots but they gotta gimmee one of theirs. All my spots on Fork haven't had a fish on'em in years so come on over.

Doubt they care.

What, at like the hair salon or something?

They don’t have exclusive use of the lake. Plenty of people that care zero about tournament fishing but like to fish. Quite a few would prefer it doesn’t exist. If the pro asked politely generally he would be able to fish the spot. If not then just go on and work around it.

Personally I follow tournaments and would stay off the lake or watch from a distance without a rod in the boat. But I can see how a guy who cares less about the tournament scene doesn’t give up the spot. Doesn’t make him a Richard.